Alarm device



W. W. MILLER.

ALARM DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED Aue.4, l9l6.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

Patented Aug. 17 1920.

. glwuewl o'c MLMER w MILLER.

W. W. MILLER.

ALARM DEVICE.

APPLICATION men AUG-4. 191s.

Patented Aug. 17, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNiTED s'rarss 'WILMER W. MILLER, F ARDM ORE, PENNSILVANIA.

- ALARM nnvrcn.

Specification of Letters Patent. P t t 17, 1 2

Application filed August 4,1916. Serial No. 113,085.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILMER W. MILLER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ardmore, in the county of. Montgomery and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Alarm Devices, of which, the following is a specification.

My invention consists of an alarm device which is electrically controlled and is particuiarly serviceable when used in connection with the line circuit of a telephone exchange. I

One of the objects of my invention is to provide'a device which may be operated by the closing of a switch or switches to senda signal to a central'telephone exchange, said signal being of a different nature than the ordinary signai received at the telephone exchange due to the raising of the receiver as is common in a great many of the telephone systems now in use.

Another object of my invention is to so construct my improved alarm device that it may be used in connection with private houses, banking institutions, or other buildings so that in case of an undesirable intruder such as a burglar entering the premises, a person merely by the pressing of a button or lever may start the operation of electrically controlled mechanism which will operate to continuously send a signal over the line circuit of the telephone exchange as above noted.

A further object of my invention is to provide mechanism which will send 'a signal of such nature as to be readily distinguished by the operator in the central exchange.

'A still further object of my invention is to so "construct my device that it will not interfere, when not in use, with the proper operation of the telephone circuit, so that the device will not be objectionable. and will not interfere with the proper transmission of current over the telephone lines during telephoning operation.

A still further object of my invention is to so provide my improved device that when a swltch is closed, a low resistance shunt circuit will be thrown across the main telephone lines, and thereby produce the alarm in the central exchange.

Another object of my inv'ention"is to so construct my improved device that after an alarm has been sent, the construction is such as to permit, and not interfere with the operator sending a signal back over the telephone wires to inform the sender of the I attain in the following manner, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is an elevational view partly, diagrammatic, of one-form of my invention. Fig. 2 is a iew of similar character to Fig. 1 showing certain modifications of the elements included in Fig. 1, and

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of a modified .form of time switch which I may in some instances employ.

Referring to 'Fig. 1 of the drawings, 1 represents the call box of a subscribers telephone which has the main telephone line wires 2 and 3 connected therewith and extending to the exchange not shown in the drawing.

A casing or box 4 has therein an electro magnet 5 and a pivoted metallic member 6 which forms an armature and will, when the electro-magnet 5 is energized, be moved toward the end 7 of said electro-magnet.

A metallic lever 8 is pivoted within the box 4; as shown at 9 and has a hooked end 10 which normally-rests on a shoulder 11 formed on the armature 6 when said armature is in its normal position as shown in the drawing.

An electric'contacting plate 12 is secured to the inner surface of the box 4 and designed to form a rest and stop for the lever 8 when released by the movement of the armature 6.

- a spring contact 22 on a transmitting ar-.

The lever 8 is pressed by a spring 13, so that the hooked end 10 is firmly held against the shoulder 11, so that no accidental vibration will release these two elements, however, when the armature 6 is attracted by the electro-magnet 5, the spring 13 assists and accelerates the fallin of the lever 8. onto the contact 12 and firmly holds said lever 8 against the plate 12 to form a positive electrical contact therewith.

A-button 14 is slidably mounted within the box 4.and is normally held in its lowest position by means of an expansion spring -'15 positioned between a head 16 on the button anden inner casing 17 within the box 4, the latter having a holesufiiciently large to permit the lower end of the button to royect outside thereof but prevents the head 16 from passing out of said box.

The inner end of the button 14 is so located that after the lever 8 has fallen into contact with the-plate 12, said lever maybe moved by the pushing of said button magnet 20 therein, one end of the winding of this electro-magnet being connected to a circuit-making-and breaking contact member 21, the latter being designed to engage mature 23, the latter'being pivoted at 24 to the box 19.

A post 25 is located within the box 19, and has a bifurcated or yoked end 26' providing contacting. arms 27 and 28 spaced apart. The upper end of the transmitting.

armature 23 is located between the arms 27 and 28 and has oppositely disposed contacting fingers 29 and 30, the finger 29 being desi ed to contact with :the arm 27 and the nger 30 being designed to contact with Y the arm 28. t

The fingers 29 and 30 are normally held out of contact with their respective arms 27 and 28 by springs 31 and .32 or other suitable means.

The post 25 is electrically connected by means of a wire 33 to the main telephone wire 2, and the transmitting armature 23 is electrically connected by means of a wire 34 to the plate 12 within the box 4.

A local battery 35 is connected with the lever 8 throughthe medium of wires 36 and 37 which are connected to a pole 38 of said battery, and the other end of the winding of the eleetro-magnet. 20 is connected 'to the'flpole 39 of the battery through the medium of wires 40, 41, 42, and 43.

A plurality of push buttons 44 are connected in parallel across wires 45 and 46. These buttons and wires may be positioned 18 tends to move the arma-- neeaeoe at any desirable position throughout premises so that they. may be readily presses to send an alarm. The wire 45 is connected through the medium of anotherwire 47 to one end oi the winding of the electro-magnet 5, the other end of said latter winding being connected by a wire 43 to the wire A number of trap switches 49 01'- any well known type may be secured to windows or doors throughout the premises, said switches being open when the windows and doors are closed. These switches are arranged in parallel and connected with two wires 50 and 51, the wire 50 being connected with the wires 45 and 47. r

A cut-out switch 52 is located between the wire 51 and a wire 53, the latter being connected to the wires 40 and 41. The wires 42 and 43 are connected by means of a wire 54 to the main telephone wire 3. The pressing of any of the buttons 44 or the closing of any of the trap switches 49 will cause the armature 6 to be attracted by the magnet 5, and permit the lever 8 to fall in contact with the plate 12. A circuit with the battery will then be closed, which will ener-' gize the electro-magnet 20 to attract the transmitting armature 23 and move the finger 30 into contact with the arm 28. This contact permits current to flow from the battery 35 through wire 54, members 8 and 12,

wire 34, armature 23, arm 28, and wire 33 ,thereby causing a momentary shunt circuit to be thrown on the main telephone wires 2 and 3, and also causes the circuit between the contacting member 21 and the'spring 22 to be broken to deenergize the magnet 20 and the rebound will bring the finger 29 in contact with the arm 27 to throw another momentary shunt circuit onto the main lines 2 and 3.

During this latter movement of the armature 23, the circuit will then again be formed between the contacting finger 21 and the spring 22 to reenergize the magnet 26 and again attract the transmitting armature 23. A continuous vibrating movement of the transmitting armature is thus attained, and a series of momentary shunt circuits will be thrown onto the main lines 2 and 3. The frequency of these currents may be regulated by means of the contacting member 21 which is screw-threaded within a post 55, and the operator at the telephone exchange will receive a flickering or vibrating signal which may be readily distinguished from the ordinary signal caused by the lifting of the receiver from the tele phone.

The'action when one of the buttons 44 ressed is as follows:

urrent passes through the wires 40, 41,

46, 45, and 47, and thence through the windwires 40, 41,. 42, and 43, thence through the winding of the electro-magnet 2.0 and through the medium of the spring 22 and transmitting armature 23 to the wire 34,

and plate 12. The lever 8 being in contact with the plate 12, will form a conductor of the current to the wire 37 and thence through the medium of the wire 36 to the battery 35. This causes the electro-magnet 20 to be energized as before stated to cause an alternate contact between the finger 29 and arm 27, and between the finger 30 and arm 28.

When the transmitting armature 23 contacts with either of the arms 27 or 28 aspreviously stated, a shunt circuit will be formed and thrownonto the lines 2 and 3 through the medium of the battery 35, wires 40, 41, 42, and 54, thence to the exchange and returning over the wire 2, through the wire 33, post 25, and transmitting armature 23, back to the pole 38 of the battery 35.

The circuit from any of the trap switches 49 when the cut-out switch 52 is closed, will be substantially the same as described in connection with the buttons 44., with the exception that the current passes. through the branch wires 50 and 53 1n distinction to the wires 45 and 46.

In Fig. 2 of the drawing I have illustrated a clock work relay and a time switch. This clock work relay takes the place of the ele-* ments contained in the box 4 as shown in Fig. 1, and the time switch is added to the circuit including the push buttons.

The wirin and the transmitting armature are substantlally identical to that describedin connection with Fig. 1, however the clock work relay acts to automatically re-set itself after a predetermined lapse of time, whereas the mechanism within the box 4 of Fig. 1, requires a manual re-setting through the medium of the button 14. I

The time switch may be released by the movement of a handle and in some instances may be preferred to insure a circuit through the wires 45 and 46', since the contact will be formed by the time switch for a sufiicient length of time to positively insure that a circuit is passed through the respective wires to startthe mechanism to transmit the alarm.

The clock work relay 'is mounted within a box 56, and has a chain of gears 57, 58, 59,

60 and 61 which are rotated through the medium of a spring 62 which may be wound upon a key shaft 63. The gear 57 is mounted on a shaft 64 which has secured to it, a metallic contacting wheel 65, having a short insulating section 66 in its periphery.

An armature 67 is pivotally mounted at 68, and normall trated in Fi 2 y a spring 68. This armature has a ooked end 69 designed to be engaged by a in 70 onthe disk 65, so that when the pin 0 is in engagement with the hook 69, movementflof the disk 65' is pre- I vented. v 7

The upper end of the armature 67 is adjacent the magnetic end of an 'electro-Inagnet 71. The casing 56 supports two contacting shoes 72 and 73. The winding of the electro-magnet 71 is connected to the wires 45 and 48 in a manner similar to the winding of the electro-magnet 5, as shown in Fig.

.1, and the shoes 72 and 73 are respectively connected by the wires 34 and 37 which lead to the transmitting armature and to the bat terIv through the medium of'the wire 36. y n the'normal position of the clock work relay, the shoe 72 is in contact with the insulating section 66, and the shoe 73 is in engagement with the peripheral surface of the disk 65, so that when in this position, no current can possibly pass between said shoes. The time switch is positioned within a box 74, and consists of a chain of gears 75, 76, 77-, 78, and 79, the latter gear being secured to a shaft 80.. A coiled spring 81 has one end fixed and its other end attached to the shaft 80, and the spring may be wound throu h-the medium of the shaft 80. The

gear 5 is secured to a shaft 82, the latter having fixed thereon a contacting disk 83 Fig. 1.

lever 89 is pivoted at 90 to the box 74, and has a handle portion 91 extending to the outer surface of said box. The inner end of the lever 89 is hooked at 92 and normally is engaged by a pin- 93 carried by said disk 83, so that the disk 83 is prevented from rotating due to the action of the spring 81, how ever, amovement of the handle 91 will release the hooked end 92 of the lever 89 from the pin 93, and when so released, the spring 81 will serve to turn the disk 83 through the chain of gears just described, so as to move the insulating section 84 out of contact with the shoe 85, and since the disk 83 is made of metal which is a conductor, of electricity, current will then pass between the shoes 85 and 86 through the medium of the metallic portion of the disk 83. This contact will continue until the disk has made a complete revolution, and the pin 93 again engages the hooked end 92 of the lever 89.

held in the position illusv I only one time switch, that an number of time switches may be connecte to the Wires 45'and 46, and also that the inclusion of the time switches does not interfere with the inclusion of the push buttons 44, and in Fig. 2 I have also showntwo'of the buttons 44 in connection with the wires 45 and 46.

In Fig. 3, I have shown a modified form of time switch in which the .spring may be wound by a partial rotary movement of a lever so as to avoid the necessity of winding. of the spring by a key as is the case in connection with the clock work relay andtime switch above described.

This modification of the time 'switch as villustrated, consists of a casing 95 having therein a coiled sprin 96 having one en attached to a shaft 9 andits other end fixed in any suitable manner to the casing 95.

. A gear 98 is secured to the shaft 97,, 4nd in turn meshes with a gear 99 on a shaft 100. The shaft 100 also su ports a metallic contacting disk 101, whic has a short insulatin section 102 in its peripheral surface.

he gear 99 meshes with a gear 103 and "the gear 103 in turn meshes with a gear 104 carrying a suitable fly wheel 105- to form a balance and even the movement of the several wheels.

Contacting shoes 106 and 1 07 contact respectively with the insulating section 102 i and the peripheral surface of the disk-101 operative gears.

disk 101 will also be rotated to move the when in their normal inoperative position.

A hand lever 108 is fixed to the shaft 97, and has a partial rotary movement permitted between the stops 109 and 110. A

movement of this lever from the dot-and- V dash position shown against the lug 110, to

the full line position shown at 109, tends to .wind the spring 96, and while in this position a hooked lever 111 which is pivoted at 112 engages a pin 113 on said lever 108 and holds the lever in this position against the stop 109.

A movement of the hooked lever 111 on its pivot will free the pin 113, and the spring will tend to rotate the shaft 97 and the co- By this movement, the

insulating portion 102 away from the shoe 106, and an electric circuit will be formed between said shoes 106 and 107.

The shoes 106 and 107 may be secured re spectively to the wires 45 and 46, so that while the disk 101 is rotating, a current will pass through said shoes and through the wires 45, and 46. The hooked lever 111 has secured to it a spring 114 which, after the pin 113 has been released and the lever 108 starts .on its return movement in the direction of the arrow shown in Fig. 3, will be moved into a normal position so that when the lever 108 is again turned into the full line position shown in' Fig. 3, the pin will snap behind the hookedend of said lever 111.

It will be noted that the closing of any of the switches such as the time switches, the

push buttons, and the trap switches, will cause a vibrating movement of the transmitting armature 23 to send a signal through the wires 2 and 3 of the main telephone line. The cut-out switch-52 operates to throw the trap switches out of circuit, such for example as-during the day time-when it is necessary for the occupants of. the premises to use the windows and doors.

The alternate contacting of the transmitting, armature with the arms 27 and 28 of the post 25, causes a low resistance shunt to be thrown across the main telephone wires as aboveidescribed. The windings of the transmitter electro-magnets constitute the low resistance shunt. It will thus be understood that the sound transmitted at the transmitter electro-magnet, and then broken by the attraction of the electro-magnet, the

. current in the line havingthe characteristics of a pulsating current.

' The alarm signal once established will continue "to call the operator at the exchange until cut out at the local station by opening the circuit. This can be done by resetting the apparatus, such for example as pressing the button 14 upwardly to raise the member 8 out of. engagement with the member 12 and so that said member 8 is held in a raised position by the shoulder 11, as shown, for example, in Fig. 1.

The alarm sending switches may be located in concealed-positions. It will thus be understood that with my improved invention, the switches can be located in any position desired and are readily available to send a positive alarm in such manner as not to attract the attention of the intruder or other undesirable person.

My invention is therefore especially valuable for private residences 'or any location having telephone service, and provides protection for the occupants of the premises, such protection not being limited to that riod in which the trap switches are set,

ut may be used any time during the day or night. I

In the detailed portion of the specification, I used the term battery as indicating the source of electrical supply but it will be understood that any means for 'supplying electricity may be employed, as, for example, a generator of any description.

While I have described my invention .as taking a particular form, it will be understood that the various parts ofmy invention may be changed without departing from the spirit thereof, and hence I do not limit myself to the precise construction set forth, but consider that I am at liberty to 0 make such changes and alterations as fairly come within the scope of the appended claims. I

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. Alarm apparatus including! in com;- bination the main wires of a telephone sys-' tem, a plurality of switches, an electric generator in circuit with the switches, means intermediate the switches and generator for energizing the main wires of the-telephone system, certain of said switches being adapted to be readily cut out of connection with the telephone system, said latter mentioned switches being included in another circuit than that in which said first switches are included; and a cut out switch included in said second switch circuit, said first mentioned switches being in connection with the telephone system-at all times, substantially as described.

' 2. Alarm apparatus including in combination with the main wires of a telephone system; a switch; an electric generator in circuit with the switch; means adapted to I be placed. in circuit with said generator, for

establishing a rapidly intermittent shunt circuit in said telephone wires; and means interposed electric connection between said first means and the generator and switch, and normally operative to keep said enerator out of electric circuit with said rst means, said second means being automatically operative due to the actuation of said switch .to roduce a continuous supply of electricity om said generator to said first means; substantially as described. L

3. Alarm apparatus including in com bination the main wires of a telephone system; a switch; an electric generator in circuit with the switch; means adapted to be placed in circuit with said generator for establishing an intermittent low resistance shunt circuit in said main wires; and means interposed in electric connection between said first means and the generator and switch, and normally operative to keep said generator out of electric circuit with s id transmitting armature movable in opposite directions and an electro-magnet for moving said transmitting armature, means for contacting with and arresting the movement' of said armature in opposite directions, said armature and contacting means being in electrical connection respectively with the main line circuit of the telephone and withthe generator whereby 'a makeand-break circuit is secured between said armature and the contacting means, substantially as described.

5. The combination with a telephone system including main wires, of a switch, an electric generator in circuit with the switch, an electro-magnet, an armature movable by said electro-magnet when the switch is closed to complete the circuit with the generator, a contacting member in electrical connection with one of the wires-of the telephonesystem, means connecting the generator with the other of the wires of the telephone system, contacting means normally in contact withsaid armature, means forming an electric connection between said contacting means and the electro-ma et, said armature being movable by sai electromagnet out of contact with said contacting means and into contact with said contact member to establish a shunt circuit on said telephone wires, said latter movement of the armature causing the electro-magnet to I be denergized and permitting the armature to again contact with the contacting means to reenergize the electro-magnet and again move the .armature into contact with said contacting member, substantially as described.

6. The combination with a telephone system including wires leading to a telephone exchange, of a transmitting armature movable in opposite directions, a contacting member in electrical connection with one oisaid wires, an electric generator, a switch, means normally breaking the circuit between the contacting member and transmitting armature during the movement of the latter in both directions and o rative when said switch is closed to electrically connect .the generator and transmitting armature cally connecting said generator with the said substantially as described.

7. The combination with a telephone system having wires leading to an exchange, of a transmitting armature, a contacting member adjacent said armature, an electromagnet for moving said armature'into contact with said member, a switch, an electric generator, means normally breaking the circuit between said generator and the electromagnet and transmitting armature, said means being operative upon the closing of said switch to close the circuit between said generator, electro-magnet and transmitting armature, whereby the electro-magnet moves the transmitting armature into contact with said contacting member, and means electrically connecting said generator and one of said telephone wires, an additional means electrically connecting said contacting member with the other of said telephone wires, substantially as described.

8. The combination with a telephone system having wires leading to an exchange, of a transmitting armature, a contacting member adjacent said armature, an electromagnet for moving said armature into contact with said member, a switch, an electric generator, a second electro-magnet, an armature adjacent thereto, a lever normally supported by said armature, a contacting plate in electric connection with said transmitting armature, means electrically connecting said generator with said lever, means electrically connecting the winding of said latter electro-magnet with the generator and with said switch, and means connecting said switchwith the generator, the closing of said switch causing said second electro-magnet to become energized, to move said second arma ture, to release the lever and permit it to fall in contact with said plate, whereby a circuit is-formed in said first electro-magnet to move the transmitting armature in contact with said member, said generator and member. being respectively in electrical connection with said telephone wires to eifect a shunt circuit on said wires when the transmitting armature contacts with said member, substantially as described.

9. The combination with a telephone system having wires leading to an exchange, of a transmitting armature, a. contacting member adjacent said armature, an electromagnet for moving said armature into contact with said member, a switch, an electric generator, a second electro-magnet, an armature adjacent thereto, a lever normally supported by said armature, a contacting plate in. electric connection with said transmitting armature, means electrically connecting said generator with said lever, means electrically connecting the winding of said electro-magnet with the generator and with.

said switch, and means connecting said switch with the generator, the closing oi said switch causing said second electromagnet to become energized to move said second armature to release the lever and permit it to fall in contact with said plate,

whereby a circuit is formed in said first electro-magnet to -movethe transmitting armature in contact with said member, said generator and member being respectively in electrical connection with said telephone wires to effect a shunt circuit on said wires when the transmitting armature contacts with said member, and means for re-setting said lever, substantially as described.

10. The combination with a telephone system having wires leading to an exchange, of a transmitting armature, a contacting member adjacent said armature, an electro-magnet for movin said armature into contact with said me er, a switch, an electric generator, a second electro-magnet, an armature adjacent thereto, a circuit-forming member a normally held by said armature, means electrically connecting said member with the means generator, a second circuit-formin circuit normally out of contactwith sai forming member, means connecting said cir- I cuit-forming means with the transmitting armature, said second electro-magnet being ber adjacent said armature, an electro-magnet for moving said armatureinto contact with sald member, a time-switch, an electric generator, a second electro-magnet, an armature adjacent thereto, means forming an' electrical connection between the generator, time switch, and second electro-magnet, a circuit-forming member normally held by said armature, means electrically connecting said latter member with the g erator, a second circuit-forming means ncfimally out of contact with saidcircuit-for 'ng member, means connecting said second circuit-forming means with the transmitting armature,

' said second electro-magnet being energized by the operation of said switch to attract its armature and thereby permit movement of the circuit-forming member to close the cir-' cuit between the first electro-magnet, the

generator, and the transmitting armature,- whereby the latter is moved into contactwith first mentioned contacting member, and means respectively connecting said contacting member and generator with the wires of the telephone system, whereby a shunt circuit is produced on said telephone wires, substantially as described.

12. The combination with a telephone system having wires leading to'an exchange, of a contacting member having two arms spaced apart, a pivoted transmitting armature having a portion alternately movable into contact with said arms, an electro-magnet for moving said armature, a source of electrical supply, a switch, means respectively connecting said transmitting armature and its electro-Inagnet with the source of electrical supply, means electrically con necting said contacting member with one of said telephone wires and the source of electrical supply with the other of said telephone wires, said switch when closed serving to electrically energize the electro-magnet and the transmitting armature, said electro-magnet when energized serving to move the transmitting armature into contact with one of said arms to cause a shunt circuit to be effected on said telephone wires, means operative by the movement of said transmitting armature to break the circuit and thereby deenergize the electro-magnet, the rebound of said transmitting armature serving to cause the electrical connection of said transmitting armature and the other of said arms to eifect another shunt circuit on said wires, said rebound also serving to bring the circuit breaking member in position to again cause the electro-magnet to be ener 'zed to move the armature into contact with said 'first mentioned arm, substantially as described.

13. The combination with a telephone system having wires leading to an exchange, of a contacting member having two arms spaced apart, a pivoted transmitting armature having a portion alternately movable into contact with said arms, an electromagnet for moving said armature, a source of electrical supply, a plurality of switches, means respectively connecting said transmittin armature and its electro-magnet with t e source of electrical supply, means electrically connecting said contacting member with one of said telephone wires and the source of electrical supply with the other of said telephone wires any of said switches when closed serving to effect the formation of an electric circuit between the source of electrical suppl and the electromagnet to energize the lat er and the transcause the electro-ma mitting armature, said electro-magnet when energized serving to move the transmitting armature into contact with one of said arms to cause .a shunt circuit to be established on said telephone wires, means operative by scribed.

14%. The combination with a telephone system having wires leading to an exchange,

of a contacting member having two arms spaced apart, a pivoted transmitting armature having a portion alternately movable into contact with said arms, an electro-magnet for moving said armature, a source of electrical supply, a plurality of switches, means respectively connecting said transmitting armature and its electro-magnet with the source of electrical supply, means electrically connecting said contacting member with one of said telephone wires and the source of electrical supply with the other of said telephone wires, said switches when closed serving to effect the formation of an electric circuit between the source of electrical supply and the electro-magnet to energize the latter and the transmitting armature, said electro-magnet when energized serving to move-the transmitting armature into contact with one of said arms to cause a shunt circuit toibe efiected on said telephone wires, means operative by the movement of said transmitting armature to break the circuit and thereby denergize the electro-magnet, the rebound of said transmitting armature serving to cause the electrical connection of said transmittin armature, and the other of said arms to e fect another shunt circuit on said wires, said rebound also serving to bring the circuit breaking member in position to again cause the electro-magnet to be energized to move the armature into contact with said first mentioned arm, and means for cutting out of circuit certain of said switches, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I. have signed my name to this specification in the presence witnesses. I LMER W. MILLER. Witnesses C. R. Zmemm, (CHAS. E. Porrs.

of two subscribin 

